The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-02
FAMOUS TRIPS.
TRIPS MADE BY PRESIDENTS
SINCE WASHINGTON'S TIME.
The First Presidents Fine Turnout
-Monroe's Tour-Jackson In the
East-Accidcnts During Tours
The Saddest Tour off


An interesting article upon the tours
of the Presidents appeared in the Co.'S
nopolitan. 1t stated that President
Washington made two important tours.
The first one, in 1850, extended to Ports
mouth, n. H., and to Washington.
Two years later he took tour through
the South. President Washington had
the finest turnout of his time. His horses
were bloodcd ones, and his English
coach was the wonder Of New York.
Enthusiastic demonstrations of respect
and honor met him everywhere except in
Boston. John Hancock, who sat in the
Gubcrnatorial chair at the time, consid-
cred his position equal to that OF Wash
ington, and said that while Washington
was sovereign of the United States he
was sovereign in Massachusetts, and that
it was Washington's duty to make the
! first call. Hancock failed to meet him
at the city line, as was expected, and
Washington declined an invitation to
attend a dinner given by the Governor
that evening. Hancock was remon-
strated with. His theory of State SOW
ereignty was overborne. and, having
slept upon the matter, he became con-
vinced that Washington would not call,
and sent the following note:
SUNDAY, Goth October, o'clock.
The Governors best respects to the Presi-
dent If at home and at leisure, the Gov
ernor will do himself the honor to pay his
respects in half an hour. This he would have
H., haI &c, in Ia.
gree permitted. He now hazards everything
in respect to his health for the desirable pur-
pose.
To this President Washington replied
as follows:
SUNDAY, Goth October, | o'clock
The President of the United States presents
his best respects to the Governor, and has
the honor to inform him that he will be at
home until 2 O'Clock. The President need not
express the pleasure it will be to him to SEQ
the Governor, but at the same time he must
earnestly beg he will not hazard his health on
this occasion.
The Governor managed to smother his
pride and made brief call. Later on,
to mollify the Governor, Washington
took tea at his house.
Neither John Adams nor Thomas Jcf-
ferson.took Presidential tours in the
sense in which the word is used to-day,
and there was decided doubt in Prcsi-
dent Jefferson's mind az to their propri-
ETY.. All of the first Presidents were,
however, men OF wide travels. Wash
ington went to the West Indies as boy,
and his whole life after his return was
made up in passing from one point OF
this country to another. Jefferson, Madi-
son and Monroe were all employed in
diplomatic missions to the various courts
of Europe; and ohn Quincy Adams, be-
ginning his travels at the age of fifteen
years as the Secretary of orr Legation of
the Coult of the Gar kept up his travels
for long lifetime at the Governments
expense or out of the salary received
from the Government. Martin Van
Burcn started to England rs Minister to
the Court of St. James during .Jackson's
Administration. and Jackson himself had
led an active life and seen much of the
country during his campaigns and his
ante Presidential career.
After Washington the next purely
Presidential tour was that of Monroe,
whose reign was known as the Era of
Good Feeling. In the summer of 1911
he took tour throughout the North. He
left Washington in June and was con-
veycd up the DclawGe from Whining
ton in a gorgeous barge, which was
lined with crimson velvet and which WAS
rowed by sixteen oarSmen dressed in
scarlet vests, white sleeves and white
trousers. lie was everywhere received
with the greatest enthusiasm.
President Jackson made his famous
tour through the Eastern States in 1888.
Baltimore aud Philadelphia received
Jackson in grand style. He received
great ovation in New York, and at New
port, Concord, Providence and Boston
there were grand demonstrations in his
honor. At Boston, Harvard College
made him an LID. One of the seniors
addressed him with speech of welcome
in Latin. The tour, though successful
in winning friends for the President, was
fnll Of accidents. In New York the
bridge that connected Castle Garden
with the Battery gave way with the
weight of the crowd upon it just as the
President had landed on the other side
and precipitated the spectators into the
water. Again, the Generals horse took
fright while going up Broadway, and on
another occasion the wadding of cannon
came within few inches of singeing the
the Generals bristling head of frosted
hair.
The tour of John Tyler to Boston did
not call out grelt demonstrations, and
the lack of enthusiasm at Baltimore and
Philadelphia was painfully expressive.
Andrew Johnson's famous tour to
Chicago, was full of stirring incidents.
General Grant was very fond of travel
ing, and during his Presidency he made
many trips, but they were not of the
spcech-making character. Rutherford
B. Hayes made one tour throughout the
South. The trips of President Arthur
were largely made for his health, and
they embraced many fishing and hunt
ing excursions. The trip to the Yellow
stone Park and that to Florida were the
longest OF them. During his Florida trip
he became so i'll that the newspapers were
filled with reports that his life was in
danger. During the caller part of the
Florida trip stone was thrown through
the window of his special car, and as the
train approached Wilmington, on the
outward journey, the coupling that
attached the Car to the train broke and
left the President and his party for some
time in the woods, while the remainder
Of the passengers were carried two miles
onward.
T vas thus, it will be seen, with Presi.